--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can you question who you are? And are you…" description: "\"Can you question who you are? And are you comfortable with not knowing?\" — Jon Kabat-Zinn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_comfortable_can-you-question-who-you-are-and-are-you_3027081.png" --- # Can you question who you are? And are you comfortable with… ![“Can you question who you are? And are you comfortable with not knowing?” quote by Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_comfortable_can-you-question-who-you-are-and-are-you_3027081.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_comfortable_can-you-question-who-you-are-and-are-you_3027081.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_comfortable_can-you-question-who-you-are-and-are-you_3027081.png) > “Can you question who you are? And are you comfortable with not knowing?” [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker invites questioning one’s identity and being comfortable with uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Question your identity and accept not knowing. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and self‑inquiry. Themes mindfulness identity uncertainty self‑exploration comfort Mood calm inquisitive Type mindful contemplative When to use this quote - meditation retreats - therapy sessions - personal coaching - journaling - educational workshops Key Concepts psychology philosophy spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to not know who you are? - How can uncertainty be a source of growth? A Different Perspective May cause existential anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Comfortable Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable-knowing-338769/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) [Question Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-comfortable-4928008/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) [Who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-you-are/) ## Related quotes > [I'm more comfortable knowing that, chances are, I'm going to fail at this. I've become comfortable with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thorpe/i-m-more-comfortable-knowing-that-chances-are-i-m-going-to-fail-at/) [Ian Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thorpe/) > [“If you can be absolutely comfortable with not knowing who you are, then what's left is who you are -- the Being behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-you-can-be-absolutely-comfortable-with-not-knowing-who-you-are/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Things are always changing. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [These are the only two situations possible, and you are in the sad situation. Everybody may know about you - who you are -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-are-the-only-two-situations-possible-and-you-are-in-the-sad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [You ask me a question, I'm going to give you an honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/you-ask-me-a-question-i-m-going-to-give-you-an-honest-answer/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [ “What is the answer?" \[ I \[Alice B Toklas\] was silent \] In that case, what is the question?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-answer-i-alice-b-toklas-was-silent-in-that-case-what-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [For your information, I would like to ask a question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/for-your-information-i-would-like-to-ask-a-question/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [“Question is mother of knowledge”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-muhammad-khan/question-is-mother-of-knowledge/) [Farhan Muhammad khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-muhammad-khan/) > [Lie to me once, & I'll question everything you say after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lie-to-me-once-i-ll-question-everything-you-say-after-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More by Jon Kabat-Zinn > [Karma is often wrongly confused with the notion of a fixed destiny. It is more like an accumulation of tendencies that can lock us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/karma-is-often-wrongly-confused-with-the-notion-of-a-fixed-destiny-it/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Living in a chronic state of unawareness can cause us to miss much of what is most beautiful and meaningful in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/living-in-a-chronic-state-of-unawareness-can-cause-us-to-miss-much-of/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Mindfulness means moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness. It is cultivated by refining our capacity to pay attention, intentionally, in the present moment, and then sustaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/mindfulness-means-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness-it-is/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Paying attention and awareness are universal capacities of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/paying-attention-and-awareness-are-universal-capacities-of-human/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [“One practical way to do this is to look at other people and ask yourself if you are really seeing them or just your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/one-practical-way-to-do-this-is-to-look-at-other-people-and-ask/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [I thought it was a stroke of genius that Hans Selye used the word stress, because it's true that if you don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/i-thought-it-was-a-stroke-of-genius-that-hans-selye-used-the-word/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [“dwell in stillness and to observe without reacting and without judging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/dwell-in-stillness-and-to-observe-without-reacting-and-without-judging/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/generosity-is-another-quality-which-like-patience-letting-go-non/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [The little things? The little moments? They aren't little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/the-little-things-the-little-moments-they-aren-t-little/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Arriving someplace more desirable at some future time is an illusion. This is it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/arriving-someplace-more-desirable-at-some-future-time-is-an-illusion/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [“Give yourself permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow yourself to be exactly as you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/give-yourself-permission-to-allow-this-moment-to-be-exactly-as-it-is/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice. You might experiment with using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/generosity-is-another-quality-which-like-patience-letting-go-non-2/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Science gave me a cosmic religious feeling, and I would get the same feeling when I was dragged to the Met and the Museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/science-gave-me-a-cosmic-religious-feeling-and-i-would-get-the-same/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Look at other people and ask yourself if you are really seeing them or just your thoughts about them… Without knowing it, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/look-at-other-people-and-ask-yourself-if-you-are-really-seeing-them/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [“In fact, even if distraction does alleviate your pain or help to cope with it some of the time, bringing mindfulness to it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/in-fact-even-if-distraction-does-alleviate-your-pain-or-help-to-cope/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) [Explore all 252 Jon Kabat-Zinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) ## More Comfortable quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. 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